Arlington, Va. – The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), in collaboration with S&P Global Market Intelligence, today released the 2025 edition of “Facts & Figures,” a glimpse into the strength of the aerospace and defense (A&D) industry and its contribution to the U.S. economy, both at the national and state levels. Informed by 2024 data, key findings in this study measure the economic contributions made by the A&D industry in terms of employment, contribution to gross domestic product (GDP), sales, labor income, and taxes.
“Fueled by the talent of our workforce and a policy framework that enables growth, the U.S. aerospace and defense industry continues to soar—generating nearly $1 trillion in economic activity, sustaining millions of high-skilled jobs, and standing alone as the only manufacturing sector with a net-positive trade balance,” said Eric Fanning, AIA’s President and CEO. “Our latest Facts and Figures report confirms what we’ve long known: this is an industry defined by world-class talent, and the world wants to buy what we’re making. The Aerospace Industries Association remains committed to working with our government partners to ensure this strength endures.”
The new report has found that the U.S. A&D industry continues to demonstrate strong economic impact, generating over $995 billion in total business activity in 2024. Despite ongoing workforce shortages, supply chain disruptions, and production challenges, the industry remains a pillar of national security, innovation, and economic growth.
The industry contributed $443 billion in economic value, with $257 billion in labor income. The average labor income per A&D job reached $115,000, 56% above the national average, reflecting the highly skilled nature of the workforce.
Further, the United States A&D industry boasts a $73.86 billion trade surplus—continuing to outperform other manufacturing industries while exporting nearly $139 billion in A&D technology to our closest allies and partners around the world.
As the A&D sector navigates evolving challenges, industry leaders are focusing on advanced manufacturing, digital transformation, and AI-driven workforce development to sustain global competitiveness and operational resilience.
Find more information on Facts and Figures, including graphic resources, here.
Facts and Figures Data, collected for the 2024 calendar year:
Economic Activity
- The U.S. A&D industry generated $995 billion in total business activity in 2024, with $556 billion in direct output and an additional $439 billion in indirect supply chain contributions.
- The industry generated $443 billion in economic value, accounting for 1.5% of the 2024 nominal U.S. growth domestic product (GDP).
- The industry supported $257 billion in wages, representing nearly 2% of total U.S. labor income.
Workforce/Employment
- More than 2.2 million workers were employed across direct and indirect industry roles in 2024, encompassing the entire industry supply chain as well as the design and production of end-market goods and services.
- Most of the industry’s 914,000 direct employment is through the defense and national security sector, with a 54% share. Commercial aerospace makes up the remaining 43%.
- Aeronautics/Aircraft leads with 468,000 direct jobs. Other key sectors include:
- Land & Sea Systems: 178,000 workers
- Space Sector: 156,000 workers
- Cyber Sector: 111,000 workers
- Nearly two-thirds of direct employees work in technical fields, primarily manufacturing, engineering, and maintenance.
- The average labor income per job is $115,000, 56% above the national average.
- Jobs in A&D account for 1.4% of total U.S. employment, holding steady post-pandemic.
Trade
- U.S. A&D exports rose to $138.6 billion in 2024, up from $135.9 billion in 2023, reflecting continued global demand for American innovation and technology.
- The U.S. imported $64.83 billion worth of goods going into American technology and servicing the American people.
- The U.S. A&D industry recorded a $73.9 billion trade surplus in 2024, continuing to outperform other manufacturing sectors.
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